Tag Archives: Luke Kuechly

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Rob Gronkowski (pictured above) and the New England Patriots will redeem themselves on February 3rd with their fourth Super Bowl victory in franchise history.

By Josh Kramer

It has been 208 days since the New England Patriots and more specifically Wes Welker let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers. For those of you in need of a refresher, back on February 5th in the house that Peyton Manning built (Lucas Oil Stadium), the New York Giants once again shocked the New England Patriots in a very closely contested Super Bowl game. That was then though and this is now. America’s most popular sport is just five days away from its official kickoff. Who is ready for some football?

AFC East Champion: New England Patriots

I am sure you are all shocked at this pick. New England has only won three straight divisional crowns and qualified for the playoffs eight of the past nine years. People are already comparing this year’s squad to the greatest team to ever grace the gridiron, but fail to win the Lombardi Trophy (2007 Patriots). With Brandon Lloyd added to the mix, it is hard to say these comparisons are all that far-fetched. However, it should be noted that the defense has some flaws, and the offensive line will have its fair of struggles due to the absence of Matt Light (retirement), Brian Waters (possibly retirement), Logan Mankins (ACL tear), and Sebastian Vollmer (back injury). Luckily for New England, the Jets appear to have taken a step backwards with the acquisition of “God” Tebow, and the Miami Dolphins appear to just be a horrible team (Hard Knocks has provided clear evidence of this). Buffalo is improved, but does not have nearly the firepower to stick with New England throughout the duration of a grueling 17-week season. Continue reading →

Boston College All American Linebacker Luke Kuechly (pictured above), will be the difference in helping BC pull off the upset over Nevada in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.

Bowl Season is finally beginning to wind down. What a few weeks it has been. Sure there have been plenty of dud games, but there have also been plenty of classic battles. TCU flexed their “undersized” muscles against a very good Wisconsin team out in Pasadena. The Big Ten had possibly the worst New Year’s Day of all time going 0 for 5 on the day. And Connecticut continued to add to the futility of the Big East, in getting pounded by Oklahoma. Not to mention their coach left them the next day for Maryland.

In other College Football News, Andrew Luck has shocked the world and apparently is staying in Palo Alto. It takes a committed kid to pass up that type of bankroll. Could you imagine passing up on over 40 million dollars in guaranteed money (Bradford was guaranteed 41.7 million last year)? Also, the Jim Harbaugh sweepstakes continue. People are now saying that he is heading to Miami. You got to love the media. And nobody knows who is going to fill the Rich Rod void in Ann Arbor. But I digress. Lets take a look at the remaining matchups other than the National Title Game. I will hold off on that one for now.

AT&T Cotton Bowl

LSU vs Texas A&M

-This game is arguably the best Non-BCS matchup of the entire Bowl Season. Many thought the Capital One Bowl would steal the show as the best battle outside of the BCS games, but Alabama put an end to that thought real fast, laying an absolute whooping on the Spartans. In this matchup however, a red-hot Aggies team plays what is somewhat of a home game against one of the best teams out of the rugged SEC. These teams are very different in their styles of play. LSU relies on a strong rushing attack and a very stout defensive unit. Texas A&M likes to play a shootout style of football and relies heavily on their aerial attack. The Aggies have won 6 straight games while the Tigers lost the last time they suited up, in a heartbreaker to Arkansas. In my opinion though, the dominance of the SEC will be exhibited in this one. Plus A&M has not beaten a team from College Football’s best conference since 1995. Each of these teams went 6 and 2 in tough conferences. Unfortunately for the Aggies, the Big 12 is just not nearly as tough as the brutal SEC. The SEC reigns supreme in this one behind an outstanding defensive effort. Tigers by 3 in a very competitive game.

BBVA Compass Bowl

Pittsburgh vs Kentucky

-This is actually a pretty decent matchup. The Co-Champions of the Big East taking on a lower tier SEC team. A team from the BCS’s best conference versus a team from the worst BCS conference. Seems like a perfect fit. Now I do not understand why this game is being played after New Years. But there is a lot about the College Football Bowl System that does not make sense. Either way, Pitt is going to have their hands full trying to stop UK’s two lethal playmakers, Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke. Both of these kids are electric and can change a game on any given play. Now Pitt has a pretty good playmaker themselves in Dion Lewis. A guy that did not have as good of a sophomore campaign as many expected, but he has come on as of late, rushing for 261 yards and 4 TDs in the season finale versus Cincinnati. Now if Pitt had not gone through all of the coaching turmoil that they have experienced over the past month, I would have picked them to win this game. But unfortunately for them, their staff is in shambles and Kentucky is just another one of those speedy SEC teams. Let the Big East disaster continue. Wildcats by 7 even without starting QB Mike Hartline.

Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

Nevada vs Boston College

-The BCS is still thanking Nevada as we speak. They are the team that saved the BCS from having both TCU and Boise go undefeated and causing a major dilemma. Could you imagine if Stanford had missed out on playing in a BCS Bowl due to Boise and TCU getting into BCS games? Stanford put on the best performance of this bowl season thus far. But back to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Matchup. Nevada sports one of the best rushing attacks in the country and has had an outstanding season. Boston College, after a suffering an early season 5 game losing streak, has now ended the year on a 5 game winning streak. Granted none of their foes during this winning streak were ranked teams. Either way, I am liking Boston College’s stout defensive unit, that is number 1 in the country against the run, to slow down Nevada’s vaunted rushing attack. The difference in this game will be Boston College’s outstanding linebacker group led by none other than sophomore, first team All American, Luke Kuechly. Kuechly burst onto the scene last season setting a record for tackles in a season by a freshman. This year, he picked up right where he left off recording 171 tackles to lead the nation. I realize how dangerous of a duel threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick of Nevada is, but can he handle Luke Kuechly? I do not think so. BC in a shocker by 3.

So there you have a look at the remaining Bowl Games other than the highly anticipated National Championship game. It has been a heck of a bowl season as we all wait anxiously for the final showdown in Arizona on Monday.